Docking and undocking of liquid carrying lines to and from a docking body

Abstract

A docking system for docking a liquid stream carrying line to a docking body, includes a line end having a first form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow and a docking interface which is situated on the docking body and has a second form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow. The first conically tapered form and the second conically tapered form are adapted to one another in such a way that, in the docked state, they are mutually set apart in one coupling region by an interspace defined by a sealing ring, concentrically opposing one another. The first conically tapered form is equipped on its periphery with at least one cleaning element, which extends from the first conically tapered form toward the second conically tapered form in order to capture liquid that may accumulate in the interspace.

1. A docking system for docking a liquid stream carrying line to a docking body, comprising:
 a line end having a first form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow; 
 a docking interface, situated on the docking body, having a second form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow; 
 at least one cleaning element equipped on the periphery of the first conically tapered form and extending from the first conically tapered form toward the second conically tapered form; and 
 a sealing ring between and setting apart the first conically tapered form and the second conically tapered form from one another, thereby defining an interspace therebetween, 
 wherein the first conically tapered form and the second conically tapered form are adapted to one another such that, in the docked state, they are mutually set apart in a coupling region by the interspace and concentrically oppose one another, 
 wherein the interspace is present substantially along the entire length of the coupling region; and 
 wherein the at least one cleaning element is configured to capture the liquid that accumulates in the interspace. 
 
     
     
       2. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first conically tapered form fits into the second conically tapered form. 
     
     
       3. The docking system according to  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning element encircles the outer periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a collar-like projection, and extends radially into the interspace. 
     
     
       4. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second conically tapered form fits into the first conically tapered form. 
     
     
       5. The docking system according to  claim 4 , whereby the cleaning element encircles the inner periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a collar-like projection, and extends radially into the interspace. 
     
     
       6. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is positioned in the direction of flow downstream of the sealing ring. 
     
     
       7. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first conically tapered form is fabricated of an elastic material that deforms in response to an undocking of the line end from the docking body such that the cleaning element rubs along the second conically tapered form. 
     
     
       8. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling region is configured to receive the action of a temperature flow. 
     
     
       9. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the line end comprises a separate line piece which is couplable to the liquid stream carrying line. 
     
     
       10. The docking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first conically tapered form of the line end is conically tapered to a greater degree than the second conically tapered form of the docking interface. 
     
     
       11. A line end for docking a liquid carrying line to a docking interface of a docking body having a second form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, said line end comprising:
 a first form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, which is adapted to the second conically tapered form in such a way that, in the docked state, the first form is situated in concentric opposition to the second form, set apart by an interspace defined therebetween by a sealing ring setting the first and second forms apart from one another, 
 at least one cleaning element equipped on the periphery of the first conically tapered form and extending from the first conically tapered form toward the second conically tapered form; 
 wherein the interspace is present substantially along the entire length of the coupling region; and 
 wherein the at least one cleaning element is configured to capture the liquid that accumulates in the interspace. 
 
     
     
       12. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the first conically tapered form is configured to fit into the second conically tapered form. 
     
     
       13. The line end according to  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning element encircles the outer periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a collar-like projection, and extends radially into the interspace. 
     
     
       14. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the first conically tapered form is configured to receive the second conically tapered form. 
     
     
       15. The line end according to  claim 14 , wherein the cleaning element encircles the inner periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a collar like projection, and extends radially into the interspace. 
     
     
       16. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning element is positioned in the direction of flow downstream of the sealing ring. 
     
     
       17. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the first conically tapered form is fabricated of an elastic material that deforms in response to an undocking of the line end from the docking body such that the cleaning element rubs along the second conically tapered form. 
     
     
       18. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the line end is comprises a separate line piece that is couplable to the liquid stream carrying line. 
     
     
       19. The line end according to  claim 11 , wherein the first conically tapered form of the line end is conically tapered to a greater degree than the second conically tapered form of the docking interface. 
     
     
       20. A method for preventing liquid from being able to continue to flow when a line end of a liquid stream carrying line is undocked from a docking interface of a docking body, the line end being for docking a liquid carrying line to a docking interface of a docking body having a second form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, said line end comprising:
 a first form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, which is adapted to the second conically tapered form in such a way that, in the docked state, the first form is situated in concentric opposition to the second form, set apart by an interspace defined therebetween by a sealing ring setting the first and second forms apart from one another, and 
 wherein the first conically tapered form is equipped on its periphery with at least one cleaning element, which extends from the first conically tapered form toward the second conically tapered form in order to capture liquid that may accumulate in the interspace, 
 wherein the method comprises: 
 applying a temperature flow to a coupling region between the docking interface and the line end, causing the liquid in the docking interface and in the line end to harden at least temporarily.